Regenerator



J. V. PETERKA Apr. 17, 1923.

REGENERATOR Filed Dec. 18,1920 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 172/0263? JZZWZGJ fc tef/fa M 25,, a@

Patented ii, i923,

unit

JAMES V. IETERKA, OF INDIANA HARBOR, INDIANA.

REGENERATOR.

Application filed December 18, 1920.

, T aZZ whom it may coacera:

Be it known that 1, JAMES V. PE PERKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at 361 i Grapevine Street, Indiana Harbor, in

the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regenerators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates, generally stated, to so-called regenerators in general which are provided for the heating of air, gas or other material having such properties that it may be caused to pass along surfaces and receive heat therefrom, and more particularly to regenerators of the type which are caused to be heated to the desired temperature by their subjection to a heating medium passed therethrough for a certain period of time, and in alternation with the successive periodic beatings, material to be heated is passed. through the structures for absorptlon of heat from the heated surfaces thereof.

My invention has been devised for use more particularly in utilizing so-called waste heat from furnaces, the products of combusion, in heated condition, being utilized for the heating purpose. Such products of combustion, in addition to containing gases, contain solid matter ineither substantially dry condition or otherwise, such other materials being commonly termed dust, which are carried out of the furnace with the gases and which cause, in the use of the waste products of combustion for regenerating purposes, the clogging of the spaces generally termed checkerworlr inthe regenerators by becoming precipitated thereon in the passage of the products of combustion through the checkerworlr. Such conditions, as structures of this character have hitherto been provided, render necessary frequent cleaning of the surfaces upon which the dust collects, and oftentimes requires the tearing down of the checkerwork in. the regenerator and the rebuilding of the same, to condition the regenerator for the desired effective functioning of the same which, as will be manifest, is very objectionable chiefly because of the expense involved and the consequent placing of the structure out of commission durin such replacement.

My primary object-s, generally stated, are

Serial No. 431,696.

to provide a construction of regenerator which will operate as such, to a high degree of satisfaction, and in which the surfaces to be heated for producing the regenerating function, will be maintained substantially free of dust, thereby to permit them to function to their maximum extent; to provide a regenerator of such construction that it may function substantially continuously and uniformly as distinguished from the intermittent and non-uniform functioning of regenerators as hithereto provided and requiring the tearing down of the checkerwork to remove the dust and the rebuildin of the same to condition the regenerator for use; to provide a form of regenerator which may be provided as a very low and relatively long structure; to increase the efliciency of the furnace in connection with which the regenerator is used and prolong the life of the furnace by maintaining constant the draft therethrough due to the substantially uniform operation of the regenerator; to insure greater uniformity of temperature of the air or gas regenerated, by maintaining substantially the same area of heating surface at all times, and thereby insuring the more uniform and efficient operation of the furnace; to provide for the depositing of the dust at such points that itwill, to the minimum degree, disturb or affect the functioning of the regenerator in the most desirable manner, and will permit of its ready removal-from the regenerator; and other objects as will be manifest from the following.

I have devised my invention for use more particularly, though not to the exclusion of other uses, in connection with furnaces, par ticularly open-hearth furnaces which, as commonly provided, are each equipped with a pairof regenerator units which are alternately heated by the poducts of combustion and in alternation heat the air used for supporting combustion in the furnace, or both the air and the fuel to be used, when the fuel is of such character that preheating is desired.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal sectional elevation of a regenerator constructed in accordance with my invention, the regencrator being shown in connection with passages for the inlet and outlet of a heating medium and of a material to be heated. Figure 2 is a plan section of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and Figure 3, a section taken at the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Inasmuch as my invention consists in improvements in the regenerator per se it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate the entire system in connection with which it is shown. It may be stated, however, that where the invention is employed in connection with an open-hearth furnace two of the regenerator units shown would be employed, one communicating with one end of the combustion chamber of the furnace and the other 'with the other end of the combustion chamber. and the outlets of the regenerator units would lead, as is common practice, to a system of piping in communication with the smoke stack, or a waste-heat boiler flue, if desired, or both, with valves arranged in the pipe sections whereby the products of com- "bustion from the furnace may be caused to pass through the regenerator units in alternation, the desired period of heating generally being about fifteen minutes. The piping system referred to would. also have valve communication with the atmosphere, and where the fuel medium is to be heated, communication, preferably valved, with the supply of fuel, whereby the air for supporting combustion in' the furnace, and also the fuel, where the fuel is to be heated, may be caused to traverse the heated surfaces of the regenerator units in alternation with the heating of the same by the products of combustion, the system thereby affording means whereby in the operation of the furnace there may be maintained substantially continuous flow of the air, and also the heated fuel if used, to the furnace.

It may be further stated that the regenerator unit shown in the drawings is what may be termed of plural section type and adapting it for heating eitherair alone, or both air and fuel, as for example producer gas, in separated relation.

The regenerator unit shown is formed of two chamber-s4 and 5 arranged side by side, with an intervening wall 6 extending lengthwise thereof. each of these chambers communicating at one end of its upper portion, with a passage, the passage for the chamber 41- being shown at 7. Each chamber 4 and 5 also communicates, at its opposite end, close to the bottom of the chamber, with a passage, the passage for the chamber 4 being shown at S. The passages 7 for the chambers t and 5 would extend from the source of the heating medium, in the particular system above referred to. the passages 7 for one of the regenerator units communicating with one end of the combustion chamber of the furnace, as for example an open-hearth furnace, and the other similar regenerator unit, a duplicate of the one shown in the drawings, being connected at the passages 7 thereof with the other end of the combustion chamber of the furnace. The passageways 8 would connect with the series of piping hereinbefore referred to and, in the preferred operation of the regenerator, would alternately form outlets from the regenerator chambers, for the products of combustion, and inlets, to the regenerator chambers, for the material to be heated.

The chambers of the sections of the regenerator unit each contain a structure, shown as formed of brick or tile, for presenting to the products of combustion and the material to be heated a relatively large area of surface. As the form of the structures just referred to is, except as to size, the same in the case of each section of the regenerator unit, a description of the structure of one of said sections will suflice.

Located in the bottom of the chamber, is a horizontal series of upwardly-extending wall structures 9 shown as extending across the chamber and spaced apart, preferably equidistantly, to provide the spaces 10, the series of the walls 9 reaching at their ends, short of the opposite ends of the chamber, viz, those ends in communication with the passages 7 and 8. Surn'iounting the riderwalls 9 are a series of rows of tile represented at 11, these rows extending lengthwise of the chamber, with adjacent rows spaced apart to provide the spaces 12 therebetween, the tile forming these rows extending between adjacent ones of the walls 9. Surmounting the rows of tile 11 are rows of tile 13 these rows extending crosswise of the chambers and in spaced relation as shown, the tile 13 bridging across the adjacent rows 11, and forming therebetween the spaces 1%, The rows are surmounted by a series of wall-like structures 15 which extend lengthwise of the furnace in substantially upright position. these wall structures being preferably substantially parallel. and straight and spaced apart, preferably, substantially equi' distantly. and also spaced from the side walls of the chamber containing them. These walls. which preferably reach as close to the under side of the top wall of the chamber as possible. are preferably formed of tile or br ck 1G laid in horizontal. tiers and with their adjacent ends spaced apart to form transverse openings 17 extending through these wall structures. The wall structures 15 are preferably braced at intervals. to prevent distortion of the same. the bracing n'ieans shown comprising'series of tile 18 which. in spaced relation to each other, bridge across adjacent walls,

It is preferred that the ends of the spaces Lil 12 adjacent the outlet 8 be closed, as by a row of tile 19 resting on the end rider-Wall 9.

The structure formed of the tile or brick as described, reaches short of the opposite ends of the chamber containing it, to provide spaces 20 and 21 between the ends of the structure referred to and the ends or" the chamber, these spaces preferably being of the full width and height of the chamber.

In the use of the regenerator, assuming that heated products of combustion are being supplied thereto through the inlet 7 as from an open-hearth furnace, the products of combustion enter the regenerator spaceQO at the inlet end of the chamber wherein the gases are permitted to expand thereby precipitating a large proportion of the dust entering the chamber with the gases. The products of combustion thence pass through the passageways provided between adjacent walls 15 and the side walls of the chamber, some of the gases passing through the spaces 12 and thence upwardly through the spaces 1a into the passages referred to, and thereupon enter the space 21 from which they pass through the outlet 8 to the stack or waste-heat boiler flue depending on the adjustment of the valves hereinbefore referred to.

It will be noted that the passageways between adjacent walls 15 and between the latter and the side walls of the chamber, practically present no obstruction, as by way or" ledges or the like, to the free gravitation of dust which may settle out of the gases in their travel through these passages, the separated dust dropping into the spaces 10.

The formation of thewalls 15 of the tile set with their ends spaced apart as shown and described,is desirable in that it permits the heated products of combustion to more. quickly heat the tile or brickwork in the chamber and thereby furnisha greater area of radiation ofheated surface for contact with the material, such as air or gas, to be heated by the regenerator.

It has been found in practice that a regenerator constructed in accordance with my invention operates very etliciently to perform the functions for which such constructions are provided and avoids such accumulations of dust therein as to render necessary the tearing down and rebuilding oi the tile or brick-work in the chamber.

The dust gravitating to the bottom of the chamber, may be removed in any desirable way, as for example byshoveling or scraping it out, or by mechanical means as for example by blowing it out of the cham ber. Such a mechanical arrangement is shown the drawings, wherein atunnel 22 is located between the two chambers 4; and 5 and contains a steam or air line pipe 23 provided at intervals with nozzles 24 projecting laterally in opposite directions and. through openings 25 in the walls oi the tunnel which open into the spaces 20, 21 and 1.0, these nozzles directing pressure against the settled dust in these spaces and forcing it out through openings 26 into pits 27 from which it may be removed in any desirable manner. The steam or air line preferably leads to the tunnel 22 through a cross tunnel 28 adjacent the inlet '5.

The regenerator may also be formed with openings having any suitable closures, for permitting access to the chamber where it is desirable that portions or the structure be cleaned by hand, the structure shown. being provided with openings in the wall structure controlled by removable closures 29, these openings being shown as so positioned as to permit access to the spaces 10, 20 and 21. The wall structure of the regcncrator also provided with openings above those referred to and provided with removable closures 30 through which access may be gained to the spaces 20 and 21.

The regenerator is also preferably provided with a tunnel 31 located above the tunnel 28, and preferably open at its ends, with passages 32 opening therefrom into the space 20 at intervals and provided with removable closures 33. This tunnel may be used for cleaning the brick or tile worlr in the regenerator chamber, by operators using any suit able tools for this purpose, or by means of fluid pressure blowers, employing by way of example, either air or steam or both and as are commonly used in blowing. boiler tubes, the provision of the various openings 32 permitting the fluid pressure to be directed by the blowers any desired angle into the passageways provided between the walls 15, the dust dropping into the spaces 10.

Vi/here the regenerali-or unit is used. for heating both air and fuel, as 'r esaunplc producer gas, the passages 7 of the chamlors 4 and 5 of the unit would, in accordance 1 common practice, be out or" communication with each other and would conimijuiicatc, respectively, with the ends of the air and gas ports oi the furnace.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, and have described it as forming a part of a particular system, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit the invention thereto, as various modifications and alterations may be ide and the invention used in other situations. its an example of a modification of the structure shown, the rider-walls 9, instead of extending crosswise of the chamber. may extend lengthwise there'oit to provide spaces therebetween, for the dust, extending lengthwise ot' the chamber, instead of crosswise thereof in which case the rows of tile 18 may rest directly on the walls 9. The spaces between said walls would preferably be closed adjacent the outlet 8, and these walls would reach short of the ends of the chamber containing the inlet and outlet.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A structure of the character set forth, comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, and a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof and communicating at opposite ends with said inlet and outlet, whereby the gases travel lengthwise of said chamber from the inlet to said outlet.

2. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at ogposite ends thereof, and a series of substantially straight upwardlyextending passages located between said in let and outlet and substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom of said passages and affording substantially straight paths of travel for the heating medium from said inlet to said outlet.

3. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, said inlet being adjacent the top of said chamber, and a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof and'communica-ting at opposite ends with said inlet and outlet, whereby the gases travel lengthwise of said chamber from the'inlet to said outlet.

4. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, said inlet being adjacent the top of said chamber and a structure extending from the top to the bottom of said chamber and affording a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof for the passage therethrough of the heating medium disposed in the direct line of travel of the heating medium from said inlet to said outlet.

5. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends, and a structure located between said inlet and outlet and affording a series of upwardly-extending passages. for the direct passage there through from said inlet to said outlet,- of the heating medium, said structure also comprising a series of walls spaced apart and extending crosswise of, and below, said passages, with the spaces between said walls opening into said passages.

6. A. structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends, and a structure located between said inlet and outlet and affording a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof, for the passage therethrough from said inlet to said outlet, of the heating medium, said structure also comprising a series of walls spaced apart and extending crosswise of, and below, said passages, the spaces between said walls opening into said passages.

7. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and passages therebetween for the travel of the heating medium, said chainber containing intermediate said passages and said inlet, a space into which said passages open and disposed direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein, said passages being arranged to cause the heating medium to travel in a substantially direct path therethrough.

8. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a series of substantially straight passages therebetween affording substantially straight paths of travel for the heating medium, said chamber containing ini'iernuuiliatc said passages and inlet, a space in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein. r p

9. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a series of substantially straight passages affording substantially straight paths of'travel' for the heating me dium, said chamber containing in front of said passages and throughout substantially the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein. 7

10. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chambercontaining an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, said inlet being adjacent the top of said chamber, said chamber containing a series of substantially straight passages located between said inlet and outlet and affording substantially straight paths of travel for the heating medium from said inlet to said outlet, and said chamber containing intermediate said passages and inlet, a. space in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heat ing medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein.

11. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, said inlet being adjacent the top of said chamber, said chamber containing a series of substantially straight passages located between said lOO space the heating medium inlet and outlet and aflording substantially straight paths of travel for the heating medium from said inlet tosaid outlet, and said chamber containing in front of said passages and throughout substantially the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein.

12. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and aseries of rupwardly-extending passages substantially unobs rueted from the top to the bottom thereof, said chamber containing intermediate said passages and inlet, a space in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heat ing medium into said passages in which expands and pre cipitates dust therein. 7 i

' 13. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an .inlet and an outlet and a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof, said chamber containing in front of said passages and throughout substantially .the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein.

14:. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a structure located between said inlet and outlet and extending from the top to the bottom of said chamber and affording a series of upwardly-extending passages for the passage therethrough of theheating medium, said chamber containing intermediate said passages and said in let, a space in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein.

15. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a structure located between said inlet and outlet and extending from the top to the bottom of said chamber and atfording a series of upwardly-extending passages for the passage therethrough of the heating medium, said chamber containing in front of said passages and throughout sub stantially the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein.

16. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet adjacent its upper end and an outlet adjacomprising a chamber containing an inlet adjacent its upper end and an outlet adja cent its lower end, said inlet and outlet being located at opposite ends of said chamber, said chamber containing a sries of upwardly-extending passages substantially un obstructed from the top to the bottom thereof, and containing in front of passages and throughout substantially the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein.

i 18. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof, said inlet being adjacent the upper part of said chambers, said chamber containing passages therebetween for the travel of the heating medium and containing intermediate said passages and inlet a space in direct line with the substantially-straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein, and a space between said outlet and the adjacent ends of said passages for preciptating dust.

19. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and passages therebetween for the travel of the heating medium, said chamber containing intermediate said passages and inlet, a space which extends below the plane of the lowermost one of said passages and is in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages, in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein.

20. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet, a series of walls in the lower portion of said chamber extending crosswise of the latter and affording spaces between said walls. and a structure extending above said walls between said inlet and outlet and affording a series of substantially unobstructed upwardly-extending passages communicating at their lower ends with said spaces and through which the heating medium passes.

21. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends said inlet being located adjacent the top of said chamher, a series of walls extending lengthwise of said chamber and spaced apart to provide passages therebetween open at their opposite ends, said walls extending short of the opposite 'ends of said chamber to provide relatively large spaces in said chamber between said walls and said inlet and outlet, said walls containing openings extending crosswise therethrough.

22. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends, said inlet being located adjacent the top of said chamber, a series of walls extending lengthwise of said chamber and spaced apart to provide passages therebetween open at their opposite ends, said walls extending short of the opposite ends of said chamber to provide relatively large spaces in said chamber between said walls and said inlet and outlet.

23. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof, said chamber containing. intermediate said passages and inlet, a space into which said passages open and disposed in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein;

24. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a series of upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereof, said chamber containing in front of said passages and throughout substantially the height thereof and between said passages and inlet, a space into which said passages open and through which the heating medium in its travel to said passages passes and wherein it is permitted to expand to precipitate dust therein.

25. A structure of the character set forth comprising a chamber containing an inlet and an outlet and a series of substantially straight upwardly-extending passages substantially unobstructed from the top to the bottom thereofand affording substantially straight paths of travel for the heating medium, said chamber containing intermediate said passages and said inlet a space in direct line with the substantially straight travel of the heating medium into said passages in which space the heating medium expands and precipitates dust therein.

JAMES. v. :enrnmcav 

